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I live for a limited time in mainland China and am looking for a piano for our family. I wanted to find something that we can take home when when we return (Italy). We looked at local pianos and found a German brand that is made with the help of a Chinese factory. When I researched the brand, I got confused about this brand.

The piano we interestes is the J. Feurich (http://www.juliusfeurich.cn). However, there is also a Feurich piano online (www.feurich.com). We also found out that the there is still the actual family member of the Feurich family alive- Mr. Julius Feurich. In my research, I found another Feurich side (www.jf-pianos.com). Can anyone help?

These are made in China and are copies of Feurich designs, as far as I know, but there's not much to go on. However, I will say that it looks legitimate because of the photo on this page: http://www.juliusfeurich.cn/Phoenix.html. The two gentleman (left and middle) are Richard Dain, owner of Hurstwood Farm and developer of the much-lauded Phoenix agraffe system, and Geoffrey Sapsford, his piano technician. I've met both of them in the UK, so if they're doing business with these guys, it's legit.

I called the main office of the Julius Feurich Musical Company (the one with the homepage www.juliusfeurich.cn). They were very nice. They said that they are the only company authorized to produce Feurich pianos by the Feurich family. I asked them if the pianos in Europe are from them too? They said that the European Feurich company had stolen ("tricked") the name of the piano from the Feurich family and that there is no connection between the tradition of Feurich pianos and the European Feurich company?! They also told me to call Mr. Feurich in Germany. Not sure if I will do that but appreciated the offer. I also found another Feurich website: www.feurichusa.com.

These are made in China and are copies of Feurich designs, as far as I know, but there's not much to go on. However, I will say that it looks legitimate because of the photo on this page: http://www.juliusfeurich.cn/Phoenix.html. The two gentleman (left and middle) are Richard Dain, owner of Hurstwood Farm and developer of the much-lauded Phoenix agraffe system, and Geoffrey Sapsford, his piano technician. I've met both of them in the UK, so if they're doing business with these guys, it's legit.

From my conversation with the Shanghai Office it seems they have had for many years cooperation with Feurich family.

These are made by Hailun, in China, for Feurich. They are essentially the same in design and construction as the Hailun pianos.

Is this all one company that is owned by the Feurich family and they are outsourcing but controlling the product? We were thinking of buying an upright piano but the prices are very affordable and we could also consider a grand piano. We did not play a grand piano (the shop has only uprights) but I compared the European product and the Chinese one. They are different sizes (172 and 178). Anyone have any experience with these two instruments?

. They are different sizes (172 and 178). Anyone have any experience with these two instruments?

If I have been able to follow product lines correctly, yes. I've spent a considerable amount of time playing a Wendl and Lung 178. It also came out of the Hailun factory, and I think Wendl and Lung was bought out by Feurich?

Anyway, the Wendl and Lung was an excellent piano. I prefer the tone over a Yamaha C3, but I prefer the touch on most Yamaha grands. In my opinion the Hailun built pianos are a solid entry into their market segment.

I called the main office of the Julius Feurich Musical Company (the one with the homepage www.juliusfeurich.cn). They were very nice. They said that they are the only company authorized to produce Feurich pianos by the Feurich family. I asked them if the pianos in Europe are from them too? They said that the European Feurich company had stolen ("tricked") the name of the piano from the Feurich family and that there is no connection between the tradition of Feurich pianos and the European Feurich company?! They also told me to call Mr. Feurich in Germany. Not sure if I will do that but appreciated the offer.

From Larry Fine's current issue of PianoBuyer, page 164: "In 1995 Feurich opened a new factory in Gunzenhausen, Germany. Under the direction of Julius Feurich, the fifth generation, the family-owned company is once again building its own pianos, and is currently making about 50 to 60 high-quality instruments per year in two sizes of grand and two sizes of vertical. All pianos and parts are made in Germany."

From the spring, 2012 issue, page 49: "FEURICH (NINGBO) PIANOS are a new range of models resulting from the merger of Wendl & Lung, of Vienna, Austria, and Feurich, a very-small-production German company. These less-expensive instruments (three grand and three upright sizes are currently offered), formerly marketed under the Wendl & Lung brand, are built at the Hailun factory in Ningbo, China, and supplement the traditional series of Feurich pianos, which continue to be produced exclusively in Gunzenhausen, Germany."

Whoever queried your call was either mistaken, or lied to you, or you misunderstood what the representative said. Feurich also makes its own instruments in Germany, and also has Chinese-built instruments from Hailun. This is verifiable fact!

The Feurich model 178 and 172 are two completely different instruments.

The 178 one of our Innovative Production models, made to our specifications by Hailun. The 172 is completely Made In Germany and costs about double the price of the 178.

They are both great pianos but with very different sound. The 172 I have is beautiful and sweet sounding with great sustain. It is not a powerhouse piano in the more European tradition. Unlike the 178, it does not have a duplex scale, so the tone color is quite different.